DHQ – BHT who attacked Michika abandoned Hilux Van, 2 Toyota Cars loaded with looted food items over troops firepower; Delta Safe destroys illegal refining camp, recovers 26 surface tanks/Pits filled 750,000 litres of stolen crude.
The Defence headquarters said on Friday that scores Boko Haram terrorists who attacked Michika in Adamawa state during the week, were on a looting spree for food and money noting that following the heavy onslaught against them by Special Forces, they abandoned one Hilux Van and two Toyota cars loaded with looted foodstuff.
Similarly, DHQ said that its operations against oil thieves in the Niger Delta recorded successes with the destruction of an illegal refining camp having 18 ovens, 18 coolers, 39 waste pits as well as recovery of 26 surface tanks and five pits cumulatively filled with about 750,000 litres of stolen crude.
Acting Director of Defence Information, Col Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement while giving an update of several operations going on across the country.
He said, “In its relentless effort to ensure adequate national security the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been engrossed in tackling the menace of terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry and sabotage of critical national economic assets, through coordinated military operations across the country.
“The DHQ has recorded quite a number of operational successes over the week.
“Some of the successes recorded include, the repel of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attack on Michika Town in Michika Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa state.
“The insurgents who were on a looting mission for logistics had attacked a bank and some shops in the area, damaging an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and carting away food items.
“However, the insurgents ran out of luck when troops of 143 Battalion and 115 Task Force Brigade at neighbouring Lassa in Borno State mobilized to the area and engaged the insurgents in a fierce combat forcing the insurgents to flee.
“The fleeing insurgents were again ambushed and neutralized by Special Forces troops at Maikadiri Village in Askira Uba LGA of Borno State.
“The gallant troops recovered one Hilux van, two Toyota Starlet cars loaded with looted food stuff and motorcycles from the fleeing insurgents.
“Similarly, troops in Zamfara State have arrested an impostor parading himself as a military officer in Tundun Wada area of Gusau metropolis in Zamfara State.
“The suspect who identified himself as Abdulresheed Sylvester was arrested while dressed up in military uniform with the rank of Major.
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“In order to stem the menace of armed banditary in the North Central part of the country, troops of ‘Operation Whirl Stroke’ conducted a raid operation on a suspected armed bandits camp at Dogo Gawa, a border community between Takum in Taraba State and Katsina-Ala in Benue State.
“In a shootout that ensued, the bandits who were overpowered by the superior firepower of the troops fled, abandoning their camp.
“The gallant troop’s recovered one locally made riffle, one laptop, two cell phones, SIM cards, ATM cards and a sum of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (400,000).
“The camp was subsequently destroyed by troops who are currently on the trail of the fleeing bandits. Similarly, troops of Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke deployed at Ondori in Doma LGA have raided a suspected militia hideout at Abuja Ogor, a local settlement in Doma LGA, Nasarawa State.
“During the raid operation, the troops recovered two AK 47 riffles with two empty magazines, one Clarion 5.56 Israeli Assault rifle mounted with a magazine. In another raid operation, on bandits hideout in the same location, troops arrested two armed bandits with two AK 47 rifles, three magazines and 126 rounds of ammunition.
“In tackling the spate of economic sabotage of the nation’s key national economic asset, troops of 222 Battalion on routine patrol arrested two suspected pipeline vandals along Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) pipeline around Isoko South LGA of Delta State.
“The suspects were arrested along with a tanker truck and 8 motorcycles while attempting to vandalize a petroleum pipeline.
“In a separate operation, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted strings of operations to combat illegal bunkering and other related crimes in the Niger Delta.
“During the operations, troops of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta and Sector 1 Operation Delta Safe, while on patrol at Iwhrekreka community in Ugheli LGA of Delta State uncovered and destroyed an illegal refining camp with 18 ovens, 18 coolers, 39 waste pits.
“Other items recovered include, 26 surface tanks and five pits cumulatively filled with about 750,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
“In a similar operation, troops of NNS Pathfinder uncovered an illegal refining site at Alakiri general area in Bonny LGA, Rivers State.
“The vigilant troops recovered several tanks and pits filled with about 500,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
“Additionally, 600,000 litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and two pumping machines were also recovered from the suspects.
“Some of the suspects arrested during the coordinated operations have been handed over to relevant prosecuting security agencies, while others are still undergoing preliminary investigation.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to use this opportunity to solicit credible information from members of the public to assist the military and other security agencies in maintaining peace and sustain the nation’s critical economic infrastructures”.
Onyema Nwachukwu
Colonel
Acting Director Defence Information
29 March 2019
